Friday, May 09, 2014

MURFREESBORO — An
MTSU student is preparing to spend a year in northern Africa after winning a
major American scholarship.

Tandra Martin, an international relations major from
Murfreesboro, who will be participating in the MTSU-approved Morocco program,
has been granted a David L. Boren Scholarship sponsored by the National
Security Education Program.

Boren awards provide U.S. undergraduate and graduate
students “with resources and encouragement to acquire language skills and
experience in countries critical to the future security and stability of our
nation,” states www.borenawards.org.

The application process and nomination are administered by
the MTSU Office of Education Abroad, which offers more than 400 program options
in 65 different countries and a variety of financial aid plans to help students
take advantage of those options.

In fact, the number of MTSU students studying abroad has
been on the rise for the past three academic years for which data are
available. Nearly 400 students took advantage of these opportunities in the
2012-2013 academic year, an all-time high since the office opened in 2002.

The Boren awards are administered by the Institute of
International Education, an independent not-for-profit international education
and exchange organization. This year, only 165 Boren scholarships were granted
from 868 applications.

Martin’s stipend will cover tuition, room, board and some
travel expenses as she studies the Arabic Language at Moulay Ismail University
in Meknes, Morocco.

“The academic year of study in Morocco and my internship
with a women’s rights association will allow me the opportunity to see
first-hand the reforms taking place in Morocco and also gauge the implications
the changes have for the rest of the Arab world,” Martin said.

Some of the classes Martin will take in Morocco will focus
on Islamic society and politics and Morocco’s place in international relations.

“Upon graduation, I intend to pursue a master’s degree that
merges public policy, international affairs and communications,” Martin said.
“My intended path of study will put me in a position to better understand the
global information environment and how that translates to governance and
security.”

Martin recently completed an internship with the Center for
Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D.C. She recorded podcasts,
photographed events, ran television studio cameras and updated multimedia on
the center’s website.

Dr. Karen Petersen, associate dean of the MTSU College of
Liberal Arts and an associate professor of political science, taught Martin in
three courses and supervised her participation in the university’s Model United
Nations team.

“Ms. Martin serves the community as an ESL tutor, minority
scholarship fundraiser, leadership academy coordinator and literacy tutor,”
Petersen said. “She cares deeply about the needs of community residents who are
disadvantaged socioeconomically and demonstrates that concern in tangible
ways.”

While continuing her MTSU education and her internship,
Martin managed to be involved with Alpha Delta Pi sorority, Student Ambassadors
and the University Honors College.

“I live by my planner and have to remain organized in order
to meet all my commitments,” Martin said.

For more information about the Boren scholarships or other
financial opportunities to facilitate studying in other countries, contact
Tiffany Bickers, director of MTSU’s Office of Education Abroad at 615-904-8117
or mtabroad@mtsu.edu.